1. Don't be poor.

If we hadn't been so poor, my husband would have had a chance to escape on the first day of the war. However, we didn't own a car, had a small amount of credit, and when banks stopped serving customers with credit, we were left without food, living in a rented apartment, and had only 10 dollars in cash. All our parents, except my father, were without work. On that tragic note, we had to act as two reliable adults and return to our parents' house to save our salaries and feed five more adults who were without income.

During the first half-year of the war, we doubled our income, closed all credits, and executed our initial escape plan. After graduating from universities, we lived in Poland for three years. My husband speaks Polish fluently and attempted to enroll in a Polish university. During that period, male students studying abroad were allowed to travel. We invested our modest savings in that nearly free attempt but were unsuccessful. Ukrainian authorities directed border guards not to permit students to go abroad, without any official laws—just a verbal order. Many students endured multi-day interrogations and, at times, beatings. We came to the realization that we had no chance, and other, more expensive escape methods were beyond our reach.

While our wealthy acquaintances emigrated during the first year of the war, we chose to remain, saving more money and honing our professional skills to increase our earnings. It became a challenge of 'be rich or die.

2. Double check every your intention

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"It's a pleasant day, and you want to go skiing? Haha, stay at home because as more interesting and eye-catching is your rest as faster you receive your invitation to the military unit. How can you unwind when someone's son is dying in the trench? It's better to clean your home or just cry about your life. Everything will be okay; the war will end soon, and you will return to your previous life. But for now, you should donate, work hard, avoid resting, be quiet, love your motherland, and eat your cereal.

Sometimes, there were good periods without the mobilization of people. Then, the next wave of mobilization and manhunting started, and you should act like a sloth, just pretending that you've died."

3. Avoid to be mobilized.

I think that I have no need to explain this point, isn't it?

4. Think about your interests.

Remember, you only live once, and your family needs you. There's no need to be a hero for everyone; just focus on yourself, your close ones, and help as you can. Feel the desire of your country for you to buy all the necessary war items and let every official live their calm lives. Your mother wants you to be her pride, so don't give her a chance to feel shame because of you. Don't be a burden for your father. Your wife doesn't want to raise your children alone. Your boss wants you to work harder, aiming to raise more money for charity than the company next door. Even your neighbor wants you to go to war instead of him and supports all your patriotic thoughts.

5. Try to find any choice in a situation where there seems to be none.

You have two bad choices: become a prisoner if you decline the invitation to war or be killed in war. Choose to leave your citizenship and face numerous document-related troubles for the rest of your life, or lose your leg. What will be your choice?